DH is my probably my favourite but i can't read it without reading the first 6 first, but i can watch DH Part 2 without having to watch the others, weird

I have to read all 7 books in order. I can't skip. I was at the start of Half-Blood Prince or was I in OOTP, and I tried to pick up my copy DH and just put it back down. It wouldn't let me read it. The books were better connected than the movies imo so not wanting to see all the movies but read all books makes sense.

DH is my probably my favourite but i can't read it without reading the first 6 first, but i can watch DH Part 2 without having to watch the others, weird

I have to read all 7 books in order. I can't skip. I was at the start of Half-Blood Prince or was I in OOTP, and I tried to pick up my copy DH and just put it back down. It wouldn't let me read it. The books were better connected than the movies imo so not wanting to see all the movies but read all books makes sense.

I agree with that, i tried as well, and i was like yea i need to start with the first one

DH is my probably my favourite but i can't read it without reading the first 6 first, but i can watch DH Part 2 without having to watch the others, weird

I have to read all 7 books in order. I can't skip. I was at the start of Half-Blood Prince or was I in OOTP, and I tried to pick up my copy DH and just put it back down. It wouldn't let me read it. The books were better connected than the movies imo so not wanting to see all the movies but read all books makes sense.

I agree with that, i tried as well, and i was like yea i need to start with the first one

I know each book can be read as a standalone but I love seeing how everything evolves and relates. Namely the wizarding world as whole and the story of the death of Lily and James. In SS/PS we see the start of the story. In COS we see more history of Hogwarts and a side effect of the killing curse (parseltongue) and an object that helps Tommy boy survive not that we know that yet. In POA we learn about James friends and who betrayed them to Voldemort and we learn about part of the Marauders backstory with Snape and parts of how James and Lily died and more classes at Hogwarts. In Goblet of Fire we learn about other Wizarding schools and some stuff about Voldemort, that he comes back and the Reverse wand effect. In OOTP we learn about the Wizarding Government and why Voldemort was after Harry. In HBP we learn about Voldemort and how Tommy boy survived. In Deathly Hallows we learned about Snape and Voldemort and we saw the whole thing at Godric's Hollow. We find out about the last Horcrux and the Hallows and the connection and so much more. Brilliantly done. All of it.

DH is my probably my favourite but i can't read it without reading the first 6 first, but i can watch DH Part 2 without having to watch the others, weird

I have to read all 7 books in order. I can't skip. I was at the start of Half-Blood Prince or was I in OOTP, and I tried to pick up my copy DH and just put it back down. It wouldn't let me read it. The books were better connected than the movies imo so not wanting to see all the movies but read all books makes sense.

I agree with that, i tried as well, and i was like yea i need to start with the first one

I know each book can be read as a standalone but I love seeing how everything evolves and relates. Namely the wizarding world as whole and the story of the death of Lily and James. In SS/PS we see the start of the story. In COS we see more history of Hogwarts and a side effect of the killing curse (parseltongue) and an object that helps Tommy boy survive not that we know that yet. In POA we learn about James friends and who betrayed them to Voldemort and we learn about part of the Marauders backstory with Snape and parts of how James and Lily died and more classes at Hogwarts. In Goblet of Fire we learn about other Wizarding schools and some stuff about Voldemort, that he comes back and the Reverse wand effect. In OOTP we learn about the Wizarding Government and why Voldemort was after Harry. In HBP we learn about Voldemort and how Tommy boy survived. In Deathly Hallows we learned about Snape and Voldemort and we saw the whole thing at Godric's Hollow. We find out about the last Horcrux and the Hallows and the connection and so much more. Brilliantly done. All of it.

Nice summary, couldn't have said it better than myself

Harry Potter is in my Top 3 of book and film franchise and will be forever

DH is my probably my favourite but i can't read it without reading the first 6 first, but i can watch DH Part 2 without having to watch the others, weird

I have to read all 7 books in order. I can't skip. I was at the start of Half-Blood Prince or was I in OOTP, and I tried to pick up my copy DH and just put it back down. It wouldn't let me read it. The books were better connected than the movies imo so not wanting to see all the movies but read all books makes sense.

I agree with that, i tried as well, and i was like yea i need to start with the first one

I know each book can be read as a standalone but I love seeing how everything evolves and relates. Namely the wizarding world as whole and the story of the death of Lily and James. In SS/PS we see the start of the story. In COS we see more history of Hogwarts and a side effect of the killing curse (parseltongue) and an object that helps Tommy boy survive not that we know that yet. In POA we learn about James friends and who betrayed them to Voldemort and we learn about part of the Marauders backstory with Snape and parts of how James and Lily died and more classes at Hogwarts. In Goblet of Fire we learn about other Wizarding schools and some stuff about Voldemort, that he comes back and the Reverse wand effect. In OOTP we learn about the Wizarding Government and why Voldemort was after Harry. In HBP we learn about Voldemort and how Tommy boy survived. In Deathly Hallows we learned about Snape and Voldemort and we saw the whole thing at Godric's Hollow. We find out about the last Horcrux and the Hallows and the connection and so much more. Brilliantly done. All of it.

Nice summary, couldn't have said it better than myself

Harry Potter is in my Top 3 of book and film franchise and will be forever

And that's just the major stuff. I like going back and finding other things. Ex Dragons in Gringotts. Book 1 Hagrid said so and Book 7 Harry and the other 2 escape from there on a Dragon. Snape hates Neville because Neville's parents could have died and Lily would have lived etc.

Book and movie-wise Star Wars is number 1. Bookwise Harry Potter is number 2 followed by the Dune series or the Shannara series. Movie wise LOTR is number 2 followed by the Potter movies.

I have to read all 7 books in order. I can't skip. I was at the start of Half-Blood Prince or was I in OOTP, and I tried to pick up my copy DH and just put it back down. It wouldn't let me read it. The books were better connected than the movies imo so not wanting to see all the movies but read all books makes sense.

I agree with that, i tried as well, and i was like yea i need to start with the first one

I know each book can be read as a standalone but I love seeing how everything evolves and relates. Namely the wizarding world as whole and the story of the death of Lily and James. In SS/PS we see the start of the story. In COS we see more history of Hogwarts and a side effect of the killing curse (parseltongue) and an object that helps Tommy boy survive not that we know that yet. In POA we learn about James friends and who betrayed them to Voldemort and we learn about part of the Marauders backstory with Snape and parts of how James and Lily died and more classes at Hogwarts. In Goblet of Fire we learn about other Wizarding schools and some stuff about Voldemort, that he comes back and the Reverse wand effect. In OOTP we learn about the Wizarding Government and why Voldemort was after Harry. In HBP we learn about Voldemort and how Tommy boy survived. In Deathly Hallows we learned about Snape and Voldemort and we saw the whole thing at Godric's Hollow. We find out about the last Horcrux and the Hallows and the connection and so much more. Brilliantly done. All of it.

Nice summary, couldn't have said it better than myself

Harry Potter is in my Top 3 of book and film franchise and will be forever

And that's just the major stuff. I like going back and finding other things. Ex Dragons in Gringotts. Book 1 Hagrid said so and Book 7 Harry and the other 2 escape from there on a Dragon. Snape hates Neville because Neville's parents could have died and Lily would have lived etc.

Book and movie-wise Star Wars is number 1. Bookwise Harry Potter is number 2 followed by the Dune series or the Shannara series. Movie wise LOTR is number 2 followed by the Potter movies.

I agree with that, i tried as well, and i was like yea i need to start with the first one

I know each book can be read as a standalone but I love seeing how everything evolves and relates. Namely the wizarding world as whole and the story of the death of Lily and James. In SS/PS we see the start of the story. In COS we see more history of Hogwarts and a side effect of the killing curse (parseltongue) and an object that helps Tommy boy survive not that we know that yet. In POA we learn about James friends and who betrayed them to Voldemort and we learn about part of the Marauders backstory with Snape and parts of how James and Lily died and more classes at Hogwarts. In Goblet of Fire we learn about other Wizarding schools and some stuff about Voldemort, that he comes back and the Reverse wand effect. In OOTP we learn about the Wizarding Government and why Voldemort was after Harry. In HBP we learn about Voldemort and how Tommy boy survived. In Deathly Hallows we learned about Snape and Voldemort and we saw the whole thing at Godric's Hollow. We find out about the last Horcrux and the Hallows and the connection and so much more. Brilliantly done. All of it.

Nice summary, couldn't have said it better than myself

Harry Potter is in my Top 3 of book and film franchise and will be forever

And that's just the major stuff. I like going back and finding other things. Ex Dragons in Gringotts. Book 1 Hagrid said so and Book 7 Harry and the other 2 escape from there on a Dragon. Snape hates Neville because Neville's parents could have died and Lily would have lived etc.

Book and movie-wise Star Wars is number 1. Bookwise Harry Potter is number 2 followed by the Dune series or the Shannara series. Movie wise LOTR is number 2 followed by the Potter movies.

An inconsistent jumble of films that mess up storylines, leave out important stuff so that a casual viewer is confused, and add a bunch of nonsensical action scenes? Yeah, they should be left alone - in the rubbish bin.

I still remember my brother's rants about the first film, about Chris Columbus thinking he was directing "Home Alone" again and including all the slapstick that never happened in the books. No, Neville did not spend 10 minutes doing clumsy maneuvers on his broomstick before falling down and breaking his wrist; dude just fell down and broke his wrist. Plus Ron was supposed to be a tall gangly kid, and he had a little more important role in the books whereas the movies just relegated him to a comic-relief sidekick.

The movies were OK as adaptations but the books are far better. I was disappointed that the Dursleys didn't show up in Goblet of Fire; I wanted to see Fred and George feed Dudley that candy that made his tongue blow out of his mouth.

And speaking of a Fred and George scene which absolutely was not done justice in the films: their exit from Hogwarts in OOTP. Probably the best scene in any of the books, and while I'm glad the film at least included it (I was worried it wouldn't), it was not the same.

I'm going to type this up for the pleasure of those of you who have not read the books. This is what you're missing:

page 673-675 said:

It was just like the night when Trelawney had been sacked. Students were standing all around the walls in a great ring (some of them, Harry noticed, covered in a substance that looked very much like Stinksap); teachers and ghosts were also in the crowd. Prominent among the onlookers were members of the Inquisitorial Squad, who were all looking exceptionally pleased with themselves, and Peeves, who was bobbing overhead, gazing down upon Fred and George, who stood in the middle of the floor with the unmistakable look of two people who had just been cornered.

"So!" said Umbridge triumphantly, whom Harry realized was standing just a few stairs in front of himi, once more looking down upon her prey. "So you think it's amusing to turn a school corridor into a swamp, do you?"

"Pretty amusing, yeah," said Fred, looking back up at her without the slightest sign of fear.

Filch elbowed his way closer to Umbridge, almost crying with happiness.

"I've got the form, Headmistress," he said hoarsely, waving the piece of parchment Harry had just seen him take from her desk. "I've got the form and I've got the whips waiting...Oh, let me do it now..."

"Very good, Argus," she said. "You two," she went on, gazing down at Fred and George, "are about to learn what happens to wrongdoers in my school."

And before Umbridge could say a word, they raised their wands and said together, ACCIO BROOMS!

Harry heard a crash somewhere in the distance. Looking to his left he ducked just in time--Fred and George's broomsticks, one still trailing the heavy chain and iron peg with which Umbridge had fastened them to the wall, were hurtling along the corridor toward their owners. They turned left, streaked down the stairs, and stopped sharply in front of the twins, the chain clattering loudly on the flagged stone floor.

Fred looked around the assembled students, and at the silent, watchful crowd.

"If anyone fancies buying a Portable Swamp, as demonstrated upstairs, come to number 93, Diagon Alley--Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes," he said in a loud voice. "Our new premises!"

"Special discounts to Hogwarts students who swear they're going to use our products to get rid of this old bat," added George, pointing at Professor Umbridge.

"STOP THEM!" shrieked Umbridge, but it was too late. As the Inquisitorial Squad closed in, Fred and George kicked off from the floor, shooting fifteen feet into the air, the iron peg swinging dangerously below. Fred looked across the hall at the poltergeist bobbing on his level above the crowd.

"Give her hell from us, Peeves."

And Peeves, whom Harry had never seen take an order from a student before, swept his belled hat from his head and sprang to a salute as Fred and George wheeled about to tumultuous applause from the students below and sped out of the open front doors into a glorious sunset.

*happy sigh* Ah, Fred and George, if you were real I would stand in line all night to be your friend.

I had the last three paragraphs in my TF.N bio right before I took my hiatus several years ago.

Ron was ruined in the movies to me. Nothing against Rupert Grint but book Ron was so much better. They made Hermione take up his lines and made her Super-Hermione. She did everything and said everything. Good grief. Thank god for Joey Richter who restored my faith in Ron.
Fred and George's exit from Hogwarts was awesome in both. Bookwise was better but movie wise was still fun. I liked the newspaper transitions. Amazing.
The Dursley's needed to be used more. Especially start of HBP.

One of the worst examples of Hermione taking Ron's lines and becoming Hermione Sue:

PoA in the Shrieking Shack. In the book, Ron stands up on his broken leg, with his face turning green because the pain of it was making him nauseous, and stands in front of Harry: "If you want to kill Harry, you'll have to kill us too."

But noooo, Steve Kloves really likes Hermione so she got that line in the movie. (He admitted in an interview that Hermione was his favorite.)

At the time several of us made jokes about how in the GoF movie, Hermione would probably drink Polyjuice Potion, go into the maze as Harry, and make sure that Cedric came out alive.

And yes, Dumbledore blistering the Dursleys at the beginning of HBP needed to be in the film. W...T...F.

Even that was as bad as that numb**** Children of the Corn scene with Bellatrix burning the Burrow down, a scene that didn't happen in the book.

One of the worst examples of Hermione taking Ron's lines and becoming Hermione Sue:

PoA in the Shrieking Shack. In the book, Ron stands up on his broken leg, with his face turning green because the pain of it was making him nauseous, and stands in front of Harry: "If you want to kill Harry, you'll have to kill us too."

But noooo, Steve Kloves really likes Hermione so she got that line in the movie. (He admitted in an interview that Hermione was his favorite.)

At the time several of us made jokes about how in the GoF movie, Hermione would probably drink Polyjuice Potion, go into the maze as Harry, and make sure that Cedric came out alive.

And yes, Dumbledore blistering the Dursleys at the beginning of HBP needed to be in the film. W...T...F.

Even that was as bad as that numb**** Children of the Corn scene with Bellatrix burning the Burrow down, a scene that didn't happen in the book.

[/end rant. I think]

That was only added because the battle of Hogwarts was excluded from the film

One of the worst examples of Hermione taking Ron's lines and becoming Hermione Sue:

PoA in the Shrieking Shack. In the book, Ron stands up on his broken leg, with his face turning green because the pain of it was making him nauseous, and stands in front of Harry: "If you want to kill Harry, you'll have to kill us too."

But noooo, Steve Kloves really likes Hermione so she got that line in the movie. (He admitted in an interview that Hermione was his favorite.)

At the time several of us made jokes about how in the GoF movie, Hermione would probably drink Polyjuice Potion, go into the maze as Harry, and make sure that Cedric came out alive.

And yes, Dumbledore blistering the Dursleys at the beginning of HBP needed to be in the film. W...T...F.

Even that was as bad as that numb**** Children of the Corn scene with Bellatrix burning the Burrow down, a scene that didn't happen in the book.

[/end rant. I think]

That was only added because the battle of Hogwarts was excluded from the film

Which was stupidly taken out because they wanted to make the DH 2 battle all the more important. We got 2-3 years between HBP and DH 2? Wouldn't we have been satisfied with some action at Hogwarts and got ready for more?

One of the worst examples of Hermione taking Ron's lines and becoming Hermione Sue:

PoA in the Shrieking Shack. In the book, Ron stands up on his broken leg, with his face turning green because the pain of it was making him nauseous, and stands in front of Harry: "If you want to kill Harry, you'll have to kill us too."

But noooo, Steve Kloves really likes Hermione so she got that line in the movie. (He admitted in an interview that Hermione was his favorite.)

At the time several of us made jokes about how in the GoF movie, Hermione would probably drink Polyjuice Potion, go into the maze as Harry, and make sure that Cedric came out alive.

And yes, Dumbledore blistering the Dursleys at the beginning of HBP needed to be in the film. W...T...F.

Even that was as bad as that numb**** Children of the Corn scene with Bellatrix burning the Burrow down, a scene that didn't happen in the book.

[/end rant. I think]

That was only added because the battle of Hogwarts was excluded from the film

Which was stupidly taken out because they wanted to make the DH 2 battle all the more important. We got 2-3 years between HBP and DH 2? Wouldn't we have been satisfied with some action at Hogwarts and got ready for more?

I believe it was confirmed that it would have been repetitive if they added the battle into HBP and also have one in DH

Not to mention it made no sense whatsoever - not in terms of plot, or storytelling. Just a totally random scene that added nothing and had no sense.

So yeah, I am very much hoping for a PROPER remake of the films, for adaptations that are truthful in spirit to the original material (because obviously there will be differences between books and films, there always are) - but in 20 years or so. The current films are simply too fresh. We need perspective and the test of time.

I believe it was confirmed that it would have been repetitive if they added the battle into HBP and also have one in DH

It's not repetitive in the books. And those battles were completely different in terms of scope and what was at stake. If you can't portray that difference on screen and make both scenes look unique, then what the hell are you doing in filmmaking?

One of the worst examples of Hermione taking Ron's lines and becoming Hermione Sue:

PoA in the Shrieking Shack. In the book, Ron stands up on his broken leg, with his face turning green because the pain of it was making him nauseous, and stands in front of Harry: "If you want to kill Harry, you'll have to kill us too."

But noooo, Steve Kloves really likes Hermione so she got that line in the movie. (He admitted in an interview that Hermione was his favorite.)

At the time several of us made jokes about how in the GoF movie, Hermione would probably drink Polyjuice Potion, go into the maze as Harry, and make sure that Cedric came out alive.

And yes, Dumbledore blistering the Dursleys at the beginning of HBP needed to be in the film. W...T...F.

Even that was as bad as that numb**** Children of the Corn scene with Bellatrix burning the Burrow down, a scene that didn't happen in the book.

[/end rant. I think]

That was only added because the battle of Hogwarts was excluded from the film

Which was stupidly taken out because they wanted to make the DH 2 battle all the more important. We got 2-3 years between HBP and DH 2? Wouldn't we have been satisfied with some action at Hogwarts and got ready for more?

It was confirmed that it would have been repetitive if they added the battle into HBP and also have one in DH

Lame. HBP was a small scale skirmish compared to DH pt 2. Get people excited for for DH 2. Voldemort wasn't even there in HBP!